Method of and element for heating hovers



Jan. 10, 1928.

H. O. CUNARD METHOD OF AND ELEMENT FOR HEATING HOVERS Filed May 13, 1925 INVENTOR Harry 0,. Caz lard g5 purpose.

Patented Jan. 10, "1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY O. CUNARD, OF MODESTO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESN E AS- SIGNMENTS, T E. I. HIATT, OF MODESTO, CALHORNIA.

METHOD OF AND ELEMENT FOE. HEATING HOVERS.

Application filed May 13, 1925. Serial 1T0. 29,959.

This invention relates to improvements in electrically heated chick hovers or brooders, and particularly to an improved method of applying .the heat and to an element by 5 means of which the method may be most efiiciently carried out.

In all electrically heated hovers, as far as I am aware, the manner in which the heat is applied causes the chicks to be sweated.

This is of course a highly undesirable feature, and has caused electrically heated hovers generally to be condemned and. discarded by the users thereof after a trial.

At the same time electric heat is clean,

16 easily controlled and has inherent and undisputed advantages over other forms of heating means, if only the sweating was eliminated.

From observation and experiment I have at come to the conclusion that this sweating action is caused by the fact that in all these previous devices, the elements are of small capacity, and must be heated to an intense degree to provide suficienfheat for their The elements being bare, air coming into contact therewith causes a sweating vapor to be formed which descends onto the backs of the chicks.

- The principal object of my invention 39 therefore is-to eliminate the formation of any sweating vapors by an improved method of applying and distributing the heat.

In general this method consists in provid ing heating elements having a great radiating surface so that the degree of heat in the elements may be kept very low, in preventing direct contact of the elements with the air, and in locating the elements in the hover in such amanner that the heat is first radi- 40 ated to the to of the hover, and the amount of heat is t en gradually increased and caused to descend onto the backs of the chicks. V

Heat storage is'also provided so that in the event that the current is accidentally turned ofl, heat will still be suppliedto the hover for some time.

In connection with this method I employ .a special form of element which I have desi ed for the purpose, and by means of wfi ch the above named objects of the .in-

vention may be very efliciently carried out.

A further object is to provide a simple method for the purpose, and a simple inexpensive and efficient element. for use in connection with such method.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as Wlll fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

F1g. 1 is a perspective view of a hover, the top bemg brokenout to show the location of my heating elements therein.

Flg. 2 is a longitudinal view of an element, detached from the hover and partly in section.

Fig 3 is a cross section of the element. To illustrate my method and the applicatlon of the heating element thereto, Ishow a. hover in Fig. 1. This may of course be 'Along the front side of the hover and depending therefrom to the floor are flexible flaps or curtains 3 to allow the chicks to enter and leave the hover. Correspondingly disposed with respect to one or more of the other sides is a hinged frame 4: adapted to be raised or-lowered.

.This construction permits of the proper retention of theheat, while allowing of adjustment for ventilation and other purposes.

My invention deals not with any particular type of hover but with the method of electrically heating the same.

. As previously stated, my method lies in heating the hover in such a manner to avoid sweating of the chicks, by mounting nonexposed heating elements in the hover of such large heat radiating surface as to enable a large volume of air to be gradually and evenly heated, 'while maintaining the elements at a relatively low temperature.

Coincident with the heating of the air a quantity of heat is being gradually stored up so as to be available in the event that the current goes off.

L To carryout my method I have designed an element constructed as follows:

A core 5 refer-ably a fiat ri 'd piece of asbestos or t 9 like is used on w i ch to wind 30 of elements are used they are spaced apart the heating wire 6 which extends from end to end of the core. The heating element thus formed is embedded in a rectangular block 7 of fire-clay or the like which is then baked, the block being preferably enclosed in a metal jacket 8 which prevents moisture from possibly permeating the fire-clay.

The element is disposed in the block so that it is closer 'to the top than to the bottom as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fire-clay is preferably used in making the block, as this has good heat conducting and retaining qualities, besides being an insulating means.

Owing to this arrangement it will be seen that the heated radiating surface actually in contact with the air is much greater than that of the element alone.

The element containing blocks are suspended in any suitable manner from the top of the hover and a short distance under the same, in, such a, manner that the strip 5 lies horizontally and is adjacent that face of the block which lies nearest the top of the hover.

To obtain the best results I have found that the surface area of the element blocks should approximate that of the top of the hover, and the number of elements employed in any hover depends of course on the comparative size of the block relative to the horizontal area ,of the hover. If a. plurality so that air has free contact with the entire outer surface of the blocks.

In operation with this relative proportion of parts I have found that a temperature of 200 maintained in the elements and blocks is suflicient to adequately heat the hover and maintain the same heated without to the creation of a down from the top of the hover toward the bottom thereof where the chicks are gathered. The heat will than be radiated evenly from the entire surface of the blocks, so that a large volume of air is subjected to an even heating action. By the time the heat is bethe radiation of heat therefrom to continue a considerable time after the current is turned oif or is unintentionally discontinue-d. This isin contrast to the small elements ordinarily used which cool ofl almost instantaneously as soon as the current ceases to flow through the same.

The enclosing of the heating elements in fire proof material not only provides for the desired heat storage and increase in radiating surface in contact with the air, but greatly increases the likelihood of fire which might be caused by contact of any inflammable materials with the bare Wires. A hover equipped with my elements is therefore much safer to use than those as now constructed, and would command materially lower insurance. rates. 7

It is of course to be understood that suitable switch and thermostat control means would be installed on the hover in connection with the elements.

, a departure from the spirit of the invention,

as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A heating device for hovers comprising an electric heating element, one, face of which is substantially flat, and a block of non-electrical heat conducting and radiating material completely enveloping the element in noncentralized relationship; said block having'a fiat face parallel and close to the flat face of the element, and the area of the latter face being but slightly smaller than the adjacent face of the block whereby when the element is heated the heat from the upper surface of the element will be almost immediately transmitted evenly to substantially the entire area of theflat face of the block.

2. A structure as in claim 1, with, a metal jacket in which the block is enclosed.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HARRY O. CUNARD.

Such features however are already. commonly-usedand form no part 

